Readily opened sealed container



Det. 21, 1969 R. w. AsMus ET AL 3,473,591

READILY OPENED SEALED CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. l2, 1968FIGI INVENTORS RICHARD w. AsMus H54 BYANDREw E. JECKER Z MM ATTORNEYS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 21, 19694 Filed Aug.

INVENTORS RlCHARD W. ASMUS BYANDREW E. JECKER ATTORNEYS FIGS ill

FIGB

United States Patent Office 3,473,691 Patented Oct. 2l, 1969 3,473,691READILY OPENED SEALED CONTAINER Richard W. Asmus, 3628 W. 48th St., andAndrew E.

`lecker, 3610 W. 49th St., both of Cleveland, Ohio 44102 Filed Ang. 12,1968, Ser. No. 751,799 Int. Cl. B65d 53/00 ILS. Cl. 22B-46 11 ClaimsABSTRACT OF TIE DISCLOSURE Container, with closure reclosably heldmechanically, is sealed by internal band readily ruptured by release ofclosure.

This invention relates to containers, especially cans and the like,which may be thoroughly and effectively sealed for shipping and storageof the contents and yet which may be readily opened manually, allwithout special tools or appliances and without rupture of any externalpart of the container structure. Indeed, the resistance to rupturing theseal may be so slight that one reason for departing from the objectiveof eliminating any evident external removable means is to advise theultimate user with a printed peelable tape that the container isinternally sealed and will remain so as long as the external seal isunruptured.

It has long been recognized that many products are purchased for theirconvenience to the ultimate user but such convenience is defeated if thenecessary packaging can only be opened with separate or special tools.In fact, even if the packaging requires no such accessories but doesrequire slightly complex or special and unique manipulations, thepackaging does not provide the convenience requisite for productspromoted as convenience items. Still further, the packaging must besafe, not only to protect the contents but also unlkely to injure theuser during or after it is opened.

It is an object of this invention to provide packaging which is not onlysuitable for so-called convenience goods but which, while providingthorough and effective sealing, it so readily opened and closed that itcan raise to the status of convenience items, some products whichheretofore have been packaged in sealed containers which requiredseparate opening accessories. It is a particular object of thisinvention to provide sealed packaging means which may be opened (andreclosed without, of course, resealing) without discernible effort orspecial manipulations which the user may consciously or unconsciouslyattribute to an un-sealing function over and beyond a simple and naturaloperation of untwisting a lid or top. No externally evident tapes, keys,lift-rings, or pull tabs are required for opening.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification, claims, and drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a vertical cross-section of the upper portion of a canprovided with a shoulder closure cap sealed according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary detail of a cross-section similar to FIG. l, butshowing an alternate form of an internal seal.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing another form of seal.

FIG. 4 is also a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a still differentform of seal.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail of a sealing strip such as shown in FIG. 1in which the strip is a laminate of at least two plies.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 to 4, but showing the application ofa sealing strip as shown in FIG. l to a different form of cover.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the use of a sealingstrip similar to that in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 to 4, but showing a sealing stripformed in situ.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but showing the use with a containerclosure of the type shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of a sealing strip formed insitu.

It is to be understood that all of the above described views of thedrawings are schematic to a substantial degree in that the thickness andcontours of the elements and spacings therebetween are exaggerated anddistorted and minor or non-essential details have been omitted, all forthe purpose of improving the clarity of illustration 0f this inventionis its various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cylindrical can body 10 is closed by a cover 11having a depending rim comprising an upper shoulder portion 12 and anenlarged lower portion 13 provided with suitable means for mechanicallybut releasably (upon rotation) engaging the upper open end of the canbody 1t). The internal diameter of the shoulder 12 is substantiallyequal to the internal diameter of the can body and the general internaldiameter of the lower rim 13 is only sufficiently larger than theoutside diameter of the can body to provide the tolerance for a fairlyclose but non-binding sliding t. The juncture of the shoulder and lowerrim portions 12 and 13 thus provides a seal for the upper and usuallybeaded edge of the can body. The particular means disclosed formechanically engaging the cover 11 on the can body 10 so that it can bereleased upon rotationand re-engaged by rotation-are simply short matingthreads 14 and 15 rolled into the cover rim and can body, respectively,to provide an interrupted screw connection which can quickly and simplyallow the cover and can body to be disengaged or engaged by a relativelysmall twist. Various other means for effecting similar mechanicalengagement may be employed, such as various forms of the so-calledbayonet type of lock, internally formed springlatching or speed-nut typeof connections, as well as a screw connection which requires severalturns to effect engagement or dis-engagement. In general, the shortinterrupted screw connection is preferred, since it operates quickly,provides the relative rotational movement preferred for the invention,and a short twist to remove any cylindrical lid or cover is practicallyan instinctive movement of the user, even when removing covers having aloose friction lit. Still another advantage of `the screw connection isthat it permits the shoulder 12 to be pulled into an internally jammingengagement with the upper edge of the can body whereby the frictionalengagement of the cover 11 on the can body 10 can be carefully torqnedto provide a secure fit and interlock of the cover on the can bodyduring normal handling and shipping and yet not so tight as to requiremore than an instinctive firm manual twist to break the internal staticfrictional engagement of the cover 11 and ca n body 10.

After the cover 11 has been releasably locked as described above on thecan body 10, which is still open at its bottom, the cover is held uponthe can body suiciently securely to withstand any shifting of thecontents or of the cover during normal handling and shipping. By nomeans, however, would the joint between the body and cover beeffectively sealed against leakage into or out of the container. Thissealing is accomplished by an internal sealing band shown in itssimplest form as the band 20 in FIG. 1. The particular material of theband 20 is usually and primarily determined by the nature of thecontents to be packaged. Thus, the band 20, as a single ply tape, may beof metal foil, usually a soft aluminum foil, or a flexible organic filmsuch as, for example, a

polyester or fluorocarbon film selected for its dimensional stabilityand usual inertness to most types of contents which may be packaged.

The band 20 is usually held in a sealing position by a band of adhesive21 between the sealing band 20 and the shoulder portion 12 of the cover11 and by a second band of adhesive 22 between the band 20 and the upperportion of the can body 10, the band 20 usually being secured by alongitudinal lap seam 23 unless it is actually a band cut from aseamless tubing of the selected material. If a longitudinal seam 23 isemployed, it may be formed as a length of tape is laid internally overthe joint between the body and cover 20. However, because of the closetolerances to which the internal diameter of the shoulder 12 and body 10are usually held and the better control which can be exercised when theband material is formed externally, the band is usually formedexternally on a mandrel as tubing which, with the adhesive 21 and 22applied, is then cut to band lengths. A band length is then picked up onan expandable mandrel by which the band is inserted to the closed end ofthe can body and then positioned as shown in FIG. 1 by expanding thepositioning mandrel. Whether the seam 23 of such a band is axiallylongitudinal, as shown in FIG. 1 or is spiral depends upon the type oftube-forming equipment employed when the band is for-med of a sheetmaterial.

Just as the specific material of the sealing band 20 is a matter ofselection determined by its relative inertness to the contents to bepackaged, so the speciiic adhesive of the bands 21 and 22 is likewisedetermined by the nature of the contents to be packaged. The adhesivemay be a solvent activated type but, because of the effect which slowlyreleased solvents may have on the taste of items packaged for humanconsumption, the adhesive is usually a hot-melt wax and/or resin orother type activated by heat and/or pressure or an epoxy resin or othercondensation product and which thereafter is inert with respect to thepackaged contents.

Although the bands of adhesive 21 and 22 may, in some instances, becombined as a single band extending over the joint between the body 10and cover 11, the two spaced bands are preferably employed for tworeasons: First, unless preventive measures are taken, seepage ofadhesive into the joint as the adhesive is activated may well, for allpractical purposes, permanently seal the cover 11 to the body 10, due tothe enormous iilm strength of many adhesives. Second, the sealing bandshould be readily rupturable at a pre-determined location, a resultwhich is difficult to obtain if the entire surface of the sealing stripis secured to the container. When the sealing band 20 is a single ply,as shown in FIG. 1, the absence of adhesive adjacent the joint betweencover and body insures that the band will rupture in shear adjacent thejoint when the container is opened by twisting off the cover 11. Tolocate such rupture more precisely, the band 20 is provided -with ascore line 24 just above the lower band of adhesive 22. Since thematerial of the sealing strip is frequently readily deformable, in theabsence of such a score line, the sealing band 20 will otherwise usuallyshear with an unattractive, ragged edge adjacent the seat of theshoulder 12 on the upper edge of the can body where the band 20 may beslightly weakened by being stretched into the joint between the canelements, as illustrated. The depth of the score line 24 and the gaugeof the band 20 are adjusted with respect to each other to preferentiallyweaken the band at the location of the score line 24 without destroyingthe sealing strength of the band. Alternatively to providing a scoreline or other weakening line to eiect rupture of the sealing band 20 ata predetermined location, one of the adhesive bands, but preferably 22,may be narrowed, or it may be of an adhesive selected to peel morereadily from the can wall, whereby the sealing band is effectivelyruptured, not by rupture of its material but of its adhesive strip, whenthe container is opened by twisting off the cover 11.

As indicated above, it is preferable to have the sealing band 20 rupturebelow the upper edge of the can body 10 so that it will be carried as adepending skirt with and into the depending rim of the cover 11 when thecover is twisted olf. This not only locates any relatively unattractivetorn edge of the sealing band below the formed upper edge of the canbody, but particularly if the band 20 is of easily and permanentlydeformable material, such as sort aluminum foil, the twisting off of thecover 11 will tend to stretch the bottom of the band 20. Thus theportion of the band carried as a skirt with the cover 11 will tend to beflared outwardly against the inside of the depending rim portion 13.This is desirable since the skirt formed by the band 20 will tend to becompressed in the seat provided by the shoulder 12 when the container isreclosed, thereby functioning as a compressible packaging which aids insealing the reclosed container.

The alternative fragmentarily shown in FIG. 2 differs from the structureshown in FlG. l in that the sealing band is employed instead of the band20; the other similar elements being identified by similar referencenumbers. Instead of being a single ply, as the band 20 in FIG. l, thesealing band 120 is provided with a cuff 121 (which may be foldedoutwardly as well as inwardly, as shown in FIG. 2). The cuff 121 extendsdownwardly to nearly the lower adhesive band 22 and is laminated to theremainder of the band 120 by solvent or heat fusion, or by use of asuitable adhesive (not shown). The purpose and advantage of thisslightly more complex sealing band is that it permits thin gauge foilsor fil-ms to be employed. providing for ample strength of the seal atthe joint between the body 10 and cover 11 due to the double ply at thatlocation. The single ply between the upper edge of the adhesive band andthe lower edge of the laminated cuff" constitutes an area of weaknessfor subsequent rupture. This is due not only to the single ply but theconsequent concentration of torque forces in this single ply area.

FIG. 3 shows another variation of a sealing band in a container asotherwise described and shown in FIG. l. using corresponding referencenumbers for otherwise corresponding parts. As shown in FIG. 3, a sealingband 220 is provided with an outwardly folded upper cuff 221 laminatedto the body of the band 220 (in a manner similar to that by which theinwardly folded cuff 121 is laminated in the band 120). A second lowerculf 222 extends to or slightly above the lower adhesive band 22 and issimilarly laminated to the -body of the band 220. This permits an evenmore sharply definable rupturable area 223, the strength or shear ofwhich is closely predictable because of the normally close gauge controlobtained in the production of the foil or iilm used for the sealingband.

FIG. 4 shows a still further alternative form of sealing band which maybe used in a container as otherwise described and shown in FIG. l, usinglike reference numerals for like members. As shown, the band 320 isprovided with a cuff 321 extending for the full depth of the band 320and laminated to the body of the band, as by a layer of adhesive 323. Asshown, the cuff 321 is folded inwardly but may -be folded outwardly.Whether the cutf is folded inwardly as shown (or outwardly to encase theadhesive), the band is provided with a lower cuff 322 folded outwardly'of the plies in the band. This cuff 322. which is adhered by the loweradhesive band 22 to the can body 10, is purposely not adhered to theadjacent ply 1n the band 320. This permits the lower outer fold 324.which may be pre-weakened lby a score line (not shown) at the fold, tofunction as the weakened area for rupture o f the sealing band 320. Theadvantage of this construction is not only that it provides a band whichis strong throughout its depth against any pressure differential acrossthe joint between the can body and cover, but the torn edge will bebelow the upper cut edge, which latter edge will be the one first seenby a user after the container is opened.

As implicit in the foregoing showings of the various sealing bands asbeing made of single ply material, the materal may be a laminate ofvarious combinations of films and foils, including, if such be needed,laminates of the same material and those using layers of paper or likefibrous-reinforcing material. In most instances, however, a two-plymaterial is employed, such as, in the band 420 fragmentarily shown inFIG. 5, an inner lamina of film 421 which is wholly inert to contents tobe packaged, and an outer lamina of metal foil 422 which functions as abarrier to vapors and gases to which the film 421 may be somewhatpermeable. Another advantage of such laminated sealing band material isthat it premits the longitudinal seam 423 of the lm to be offset fromthe seam 424 in the foil whereby a stepped or scarfed seam is obtained;the bump of a lap seam 23, as shown in FIG. 1, is thereby avoided. Arupture line 425 is provided by scoring the film 421.

The advantage of the shouldered cover 11 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 isthat it permits the sealing bands to be essentially cylindrical. Manystock screw-top covers 511, as shown in FIG. 6, however, simply have adepending short flanged rim 513 in which the closure screw-threads 514are formed so as to draw up the upper edge of a can body 10, havingformed therein the threads 15, so that it is seated against thegenerally planar portion of the cover 511, as shown, or in an annularchannel formed therein. Rather than being sealed lby compaction of theusual jar or packing ring compressed between such a lid and the upperedge of the can body, such la ycover and can `body may be sealed by aninternal sealing band 520. The sealing band 520 may essentiallyduplicate the band 20, shown in FIG. l, and may be adhered adjacent theupper edge of the can body by a lower adhesive band 22. However, asshown in FIG. 6, the upper portion of the sealing band 520 is foldedinwardly and adhered to the planar portion `of the cover 511 by a ringof adhesive 521. This necessitates the formation of miter folds 522,which need not interfere with the sealing function of the band S due tothe flow of the adhesive 521 into such folds when the adhesive isactivated. Due to the gap between the adhesive band 22 and the ring 521,the sealing band will rupture in its unattached area when the cover istwisted olf. To further localize the area, a score line 523 may beemployed.

By so infolding the upper margin of a sealing band, any sealing bandexemplified by those shown in FIGS. l to 4 for use on cans closed by ashouldered cover 11 may be used for cans closed by a cover of the typeexemplified by the cover 511 in FIG. 6. Thus, in FIG. 7, with otherwiselike parts given like reference numbers as used in FIG. 6, a band 620,similar to that shown in FIG. 3 (except that the cuffs are foldedinwardly), is employed.

In any embodiment employing an un-shouldered cover ange, the need forflow of the adhesive, shown as 521, into the miter folds of the uppermargin of the sealing band necessitates that measures be taken toprevent such ow of adhesive from also entering the joint between the canbody and cover as the adhesive is activated; otherwise the activationcould well permanently seal the cover to the body. One simple expedientis to first coat the edge of the can body with a liquid or gel-likematerial which is immiscible with and/ or repellent of the adhesive inthe ring 521. Thus, many of the pressure-sensitive or heat and pressuresensitive adhesives are, in their activated condition, essentiallyhydrophilic. Thus, before applying the cover and the sealing band, asingle coating of the edge of the can body with a hydrocarbon oil,petrolatum, or water-insoluble soap or like hydrophobic material willprotect the joint from being filled with the adhesive. If the adhesiveis essentially hydrophobic at the time it is activated, a suitablehydrophilic material is pre-applied to the joint. Alternatively, asingle gasket of paper or the like may be used to block the joint. Stillfurther one may employ thixotrophic adhesives which cannot flow intosmall crevices such as the joint. v

The foregoing expedient of preventing flow into the can and cover jointsfor the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 permits plastic or like filmsto be formed in situ to function as a sealing band. Thus, in FIG. 8, acan body 10 having a shouldered cover 11, as shown in FIGS. l to 4, hasa repellent material pre-filled in the joint between the body and coverand then a sealing band 720 of suitable film-forming material is made insitu by applying it from a spray gun, roller, or fountain brush. Thelmforming material may be applied in liquid form as a solvent-solution,latex, plastisol, or simply as a hot-melt liquid. The repulsion betweenthe pre-filled material in the joint and the material from which thesealing band is formed usually causes a thinner section of the filmadjacent the joint, which section thereafter functions as a score linewhen the cover is twisted off. FIG. 9 shows the same expedient appliedas in FIG. 8, except that a shoulderless cover S11, as in FIGS. 6 and 7,has been employed and the sealing band 820 extends, of course, onto theplanar portion of the cover. Alternatively, the band may be cut from atube of thermoplastic resin; after insertion by a suitable mandrel andwith heating, the band may be fused, without the aid of adhesives, tothe inner walls of the container so as to bridge the joint between thecover and can body.

It is to be understood, of course, that in all of the foregoingembodiments, the can body is open at its lower end to permit tbe coverto be sealed by a suitable sealing band. Thereafter the container isfilled through the bottom, with the sealed cover inverted, and thecontainer may then be closed by any suitable permanent bottom closure.The requirement that the rupturable seal be applied internally beforefilling and closing does not, however, exclude the use of this inventionfor sealing jars or other open containers in which the bottom isnecessarily formed integrally with the side walls or body. In such case,a cylindrical band having screw threads or like mechanical attachingmeans formed therein is first threaded on the jar body and sealed with asealing band. After filling, the cylindrical band is then crimped orotherwise united with a generally planar closure so that the cylindricalband becomes, in effect, the dependent threaded rim shown in FIGS. 1 to4 and 6 to 9.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that the essential andunderlying principle of this invention is to separate the sealingfunction from the mechanical closing function and thereby utilize themechanical strength of the can and cover to perform the closing functionand a separate sealing band to perform the sealing function. A1- thoughthe sealing band is amply strong for its intended function, by utilizingthe relatively weak strength in shear the normal initial twist to unlockthe cover may, with no discernible extra effort, disrupt the seal.

What is claimed is:

1. In a container, a container body having an upper planar edge definingan opening and one portion of releasable mechanical locking meanscarried externally on said container body adjacent said edge, a coverclosing said opening and having a depending rim and the remainder ofsaid mechanical locking means carried on said rim, said locking meansbeing engaged and disengaged by rotational movement of said one portionwith respect to said remaining mating portion, an internal sealing bandof flexible rupturable material bridging and secured over the internaljoint between said cover and the said edge of said container body whensaid locking means are engaged, said material being selected to besubstantially inert to the contents intended to be packaged in saidcontainer and to have insuicient elasticity in the portion bridging saidjoint to withstand the lateral displacement when said body and cover arerotated with respect to each other to release said locking means,whereby said band seals said joint when applied after said locking meansare engaged and release of said locking means ruptures said seal.

2. A sealed container as defined in claim 1, in which said band isformed with aline of weakness to localize the rupture of said seal.

3. A sealed container as defined in claim 2, in which a materialessentially blocking a sealing material of said band is located in saidjoint.

4. A sealed container as defined in claim 3, in which the sealingmaterial of said band includes an adhesive for a sheet material in saidband, a liquid film-forming material by which said band may be formed insitu, or a thermoadhesive film.

5. A sealed container as defined in claim 2, in which material of thesealing band includes a sheet material comprised of foil, film, orlaminate thereof.

6. A sealed container as defined in claim 5, in which said band issealed to said container body below said edge and to said cover byspaced bands of adhesive leaving the sheet material of said bandotherwise free to move with respect to said joint.

7. A sealed container as dened in claim 6, in which said band includes acuff of said sheet material extending to the edge of the band ofadhesive securing said band to said body, said cui being joined to saidband to provide a line of weakness for rupturing near said adhesiveband.

8. A sealed container as defined in claim 7, in which said band includesa second cuff of said sheet material extending toward the edge of saidfirst cuff, whereby the gap between the edges of said first and secondcuffs defines a localized area for rupture.

9. A container as defined in claim 7, in which a cul extends for thedepth of the band and is laminated to provide a two-ply layer and asecond cuff is folded outwardly of said band but is unattached theretoexcept at said fold. whereby when said outer cuff is adhered to saidcontainer at one side of said joint and the remainder of said band isadhered to said container at the other side of said joint` relativemovement of said body and cover to release said locking means rupturessaid band at the fold between said outer cuff and the balance of saidband.

10. The method of sealing a container comprising the steps of releasablylocking a cover member on one open end of a container body, applying arupturable band over the joint between said cover and body, said bandbeing secured to each except in the area of said joint and fitting theinterior of said container so as to bridge the joint with insufiicientmaterial to permit the cover to be unlocked without rupturing said band,and thereafter filling and closing said container with contents to bepackaged.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 in which said container body isessentially cylindrical and open at opposite ends and the step oflilling contents in said container after internally sealing saidreleasably locked cover is performed through the opposite end, whichopposite end is thereafter sealed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,063,538 12/1936 Dahl 220-393,377,014 4/1968 Rocher 229-55 GEORGE T. HALL, Primary Examiner U.S. CI.X.R. 220-27; 229-55

